If you want a beautiful tan without suffering from the damage caused by the sun, you don't have to expose yourself to UV rays, but use a self-tanning cream. You've probably heard gruesome stories that ended badly: skin marks, orange hands, darker streaks, but you can avoid such disasters by preparing your skin properly and applying the product with due care. Read on to discover the secrets of an even, natural-looking tan.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Preparation
Step 1. Choose the right self tanner
There are so many products on the market that it can become a business to find the one that best suits your needs. Some formulations guarantee a gradual tan within a few days or a week, while others work almost immediately. Many have long-lasting efficacy unlike others whose effect wears off after a week or even a shower. Find the product that's right for you:
- Formulation for a gradual complexion. These are usually products in the form of creams, gels, sprays or foams based on dihydroxyacetone (DHA) and erythrulose, two substances that react with the amino acids of the skin, promoting tanning. A single application is able to give a slightly darker shade, but if you are careful and constant, within several days you will get the color you want.
- Formulation for an instant tan. Most of these products are sold in the form of sprays and immediately give a beach tan. With some the effect lasts for almost a week, while with others it disappears after a shower at the end of the day. Instant formulations are more difficult to apply than gradual ones because they can stain the skin and leave streaks.
- Specific formulations for the face. If you have oily or sensitive skin, opt for a self-tanner for the face. Although those for the body can generally also be used on the face, it is preferable to choose a more delicate one if the skin in this area is a little more demanding.
- Choose the right color. If your complexion is fair, buy a self-tanner that returns a light or medium shade. If you have olive skin, buy a product that turns to a darker shade. You can always do another application if you want a more intense complexion.
Step 2. Shave the areas you want to tan
The hairs prevent even distribution of the product. Therefore, it is advisable to shave or wax the legs (and arms if necessary) in order to obtain a satisfactory final result.
- If you have light hair on your legs and arms, you shouldn't shave unless you like them completely hairless.
- Additionally, men should shave their chests and backs (or wax) before applying self-tanner.
Step 3. Exfoliate the skin
Regardless of the complexion, the best thing to do is to exfoliate in the shower before applying the product. When the skin is dry and tends to crack, it is much more difficult to spread the self-tanner evenly with the risk of staining rather than obtaining a pleasant tan. The chemicals inside the product react with the amino acids of the upper layers of the epidermis. By eliminating the outermost one (which sooner or later will separate on its own), you ensure that the tan is fixed on regenerated skin and lasts longer. Additionally, dry skin tends to absorb more color, increasing the risk of blemishes. To exfoliate, use a towel, brush, or gel scrub.
- Focus on the rougher spots, like the elbows and knees. Self-tanner tends to darken the skin in these areas more because it is absorbed faster. Rough skin makes the tan uneven.
- If your skin is very dry, you should moisturize it after exfoliation. Use a cream or oil to retain its natural moisture after a shower. Wait for the moisturizer to be fully absorbed before applying the self-tanner.
Step 4. Dry off
It is essential that the skin is completely dry when applying the self-tanner. If you are in the bathroom, wait for the moisture generated by the water vapor to dissipate. You need to cool down so that you don't sweat for the next few hours.
Step 5. Take the time to distribute the product
If you do a hasty job you will see: you risk neglecting some parts of the body, leaving streaks on the skin and staining hands and clothes. So, arm yourself with patience and try to cover all the areas you want to tan evenly and thoroughly.
Part 2 of 3: Application
Step 1. Put on a suitable applicator glove or a pair of latex gloves
They will protect your hands by preventing them from turning orange. The palm of your hand does not tan, so putting it in contact with self-tanner means declaring to the whole world that your tan is the result of a cream rather than the sun's rays. If you don't have latex gloves available, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water immediately after application.
Additionally, you should protect bathroom surfaces by lining them with old sheets or a plastic sheet and applying the product while on top of these covers. Store good towels and any items that could get dirty in a safe place. Self-tanning products are known to stain
Step 2. Apply self-tanner to your legs, arms and torso
Distribute it from the ankles up for a natural result. Press the bottle so that a small amount comes out on the palm of your hand and apply it to the skin in large, circular movements. Follow the instructions on the package to know how long you need to massage. Apply it a little at a time so as not to miss any areas.
- If you are using a spray product, follow the instructions regarding the distance of the nozzle from the body and the duration of the spray on each area of the skin. If you spray for too long or from close range, you may get an uneven tan.
- When you get to the feet, spread the self-tanner from the legs towards the ankles by bringing it to the instep. Use little. Avoid the toes, heels and sides as these are areas that don't tend to get very tan. Consider using a makeup brush to blend the product properly.
- If you need to apply it on your back, use a band to distribute it more evenly. Even better, ask a person to help you.
- If you're not wearing gloves, set a timer and wash your hands every 5 minutes. Rub well under and around the nails as well.
- Although most people do not tan under their armpits, it is a difficult area to avoid, so you may want to apply a thin layer of the product and wipe with a damp cloth 5 minutes after application.
Step 3. Blends well on wrists, ankles and joints
By diluting the product with a cream and applying the mixture in these points, the tan as a whole will seem less intense and more natural. You can use a normal moisturizer.
- Apply a small amount of moisturizer on the instep (if you use gloves, rinse and dry them to avoid mixing the self tanner with the moisturizer on other parts of the body, otherwise wash your hands directly when you are done in this area) and blend it with the self-tanner previously distributed on the ankles.
- Put a small amount of moisturizer on your knees, especially on the bottom.
- Repeat the same treatment on the elbows, especially where the skin wrinkles when you extend your arm.
- Pour a generous amount of moisturizer on your hands and blend it on your wrists.
Step 4. Apply self-tanner to face and neck
Don't overdo it because these are areas that darken quickly. It begins in the places that tend to tan the most, namely the forehead, cheekbones, chin and nose bridge. Proceed with circular movements and blend the product outwards so as to distribute it all over the face.
- Before starting, it is a good idea to apply some petroleum jelly on your eyebrows to prevent the self-tanner from accumulating in the hair and excessively darkening the brow area.
- Be careful not to overdo it over the upper lip as it is an already hyperpigmented area that tends to absorb it much faster than the rest of the face.
- Don't forget the part behind the ears and the nape of the neck, especially if you have short hair.
Step 5. Wait
Avoid touching people or things for the next 15 minutes and don't get dressed for at least an hour. If you can't do without it, wear very loose clothing, which can also get stained. Avoid contact with water and do nothing that causes you to sweat for the next 3 hours.
- Wait at least 8 hours before taking a shower or bath. Do not exfoliate or apply retinol products for several days.
- Wait at least 8 hours before repeating the treatment. The self-tanner takes some time to work, and if you reapply it too soon, the final complexion may be darker than desired.
- If you feel sticky, sprinkle some talcum powder on your skin with a rather large soft comforter. But wait at least 30-60 minutes before doing this. Don't rub it, or you could ruin the final effect.
Part 3 of 3: Final Touches
Step 1. Apply the bronzer again to the areas you missed
If you have forgotten any points, don't worry! You can easily fix this by adding more self-tanner. Put on a new pair of latex gloves and smear it on the lighter areas. Make sure you blend the edges well so they will blend in with the rest of your body when they begin to darken.
Be careful not to overdo it the second time around. If you are wrong and apply too much of it, wipe it off immediately with a tissue
Step 2. Rinse with cold water so as not to spoil the tan
Remove the self-tanner from areas that appear darker. If you see streaks or spots that are too dark compared to the rest of your body, you need to lighten them. This is a bit difficult, but luckily you can use a few remedies, including:
- Scrub in the shower. Get an exfoliating sponge or towel and rub vigorously into the dark spot. The tan should fade.
- Lemon juice. Soak a cloth handkerchief in lemon juice and pat the hyperpigmented area. Wait about twenty minutes for it to be absorbed, then wash it off.
Step 3. Keep your skin hydrated to preserve the glow
Since the upper layer of the epidermis tends to dry out and regenerate, even the tan is destined to disappear. To make it last longer, remember to moisturize your skin every day and use sunscreen when you go out because, despite the "artificial" tan, the skin is exposed to damage caused by the sun's rays and risks dehydration.
Step 4. Reapply the product if you want a deeper tan
If you want a more intense complexion or notice that the initial tan is fading, apply another product following the same method you have already used. Remember to spread it evenly so as not to create spots and discolorations on the body. Gradual-acting self-tanning products can be reapplied every 2 or 3 days if you want a darker complexion.
Step 5. Make sure you completely exfoliate your body at the weekend or when you need to tan again
Use a body scrub and / or a pair of exfoliating gloves with warm water to remove the old tan. More than one treatment may be needed. In the meantime, remember to always hydrate your body. Then, repeat the self-tanner application. If the skin dries up, some areas will be darker than others, such as between the fingers or on the elbows. Eventually you will find it harder to exfoliate and the complexion will begin to look uneven. You need to prepare a smooth and clean base on which you can develop your tan.
Advice
- Apply the cream in circular motions.
- Don't worry about the edges - self-tanner won't do much effect on your lips and nipples, so don't waste time avoiding them.
- Try mixing self-tanner with regular moisturizer if you want a more gradual and natural tan.
- Stretch marks that have appeared for less than a few years can become tanned.
- Freckles and moles are likely to darken like the rest of the body.
- If you don't have anyone to help you put the self-tanner on your back, use a spray or sponge with a handle.
- If you have a hairbrush with a smooth, even surface on the back, you can also use it to apply self-tanner behind your back. Just make sure you scrub it thoroughly and clean it once you're done.
Warnings
- Even though the self-tanner contains a sunscreen, don't expect it to provide complete protection. Apply sunscreen liberally as the thin layer of self-tanner will not be a great defense against UV damage.
- The reaction of the skin to contact with the self-tanner chemicals could generate a bad smell. Don't worry as it should fade away within a few hours.
